philosophy bites

John Mikhail on Battery and Morality

Hitting someone without their consent, spitting at someone, or throwing a ball hard at their head: these are all examples of what in Tort Law is called battery. John Mikhail thinks that  our judgments that people who commit battery are blameworthy reveals someting important about morality and its sources. 

Listen to John Mikhail on Battery and Morality

Listen to John Mikhail on Universal Moral Grammar

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy.

Jeff McMahan on Gun Control

The question of whether private gun ownership is reasonable polarises opinion, particulary in the United States. Jeff McMahan examines the arguments in conversation with David Edmonds in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast.

Listen to Jeff McMahan on Gun Control

Read a New York Times article by Jeff McMahan on Gun Control

Earlier Philosophy Bites interviews with Jeff McMahan:

Listen to Jeff McMahan on Moral Status

Listen to Jeff McMahan on Vegetarianism

Listen to Jeff McMahan on Killing in War

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy 

Tom Sorell on Surveillance

What, if anything, is wrong with surveillance? How does it affect privacy? Why value privacy anyway? Tom Sorell explains his position on these issues in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 

Listen to Tom Sorell on Surveillance

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy 

 

Liane Young on Mind and Morality

An important aspect of understanding morality is accurate description of what happens when people make moral judgments. Nigel Warburton talks to psychologist and philosopher Liane Young about her experiments designed to shed light on moral intentions. 

Listen to Liane Young on Mind and Morality

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy

Gary L. Francione on Animal Abolitionism

How should we treat non-human animals? Is it enough not to cause them harm? In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast Gary Francione argues that we need to go one step further than Jeremy Bentham did and abolish all use of animals. He calls his approach abolitionism.

Listen to Gary L. Francione on Animal Abolitionism

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy

Richard Sorabji on Mahatma Gandhi as Philosopher

Richard Sorabji discusses Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence with Nigel Warburton for this the 200th episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Philosophy Bites has now been downloaded more than 15 million times.

Listen to Richard Sorabji on Mahatma Gandhi as Philosopher

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy

Pat Churchland on What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Morality

Can science teach us anything about morality? Are facts and values two separate realms? Patricia Churchland discusses what neuroscience can teach us about morality in this episode which was originally released on Bioethics Bites. Bioethics Bites is made in association with the Uehiro Centre and with a grant from the Wellcome Institute.

Listen to Patricia Churchland on What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Morality

Listen to an earlier Philosophy Bites interview with Pat Churchland on Eliminative Materialism

  

Rae Langton on Hate Speech

Hate speech can be vile and psychologically damaging. Should it be tolerated? Rae Langton explores the nature of hate speech and the question of whether laws protecting free expression should allow it in conversation with Nigel Warburton. 

Listen to Rae Langton on Hate Speech

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy.

Molly Crockett on Brain Chemistry and Moral-Decision Making (originally on Bioethics Bites)

Can we manipulate moral decision-making by altering levels of serotonin? And if we can, should we? Molly Crockett has researched the effects of serotonin in this area discusses her findings with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This episode was originally released on Bioethics Bites and made in association with the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics and with a grant from the Wellcome Trust. 

Listen to Molly Crockett on Brain Chemistry and Moral Decision-Making

Hanna Pickard on Responsibility and Personality Disorder (originally on Bioethics Bites)

How should we treat people with personality disorder who commit crimes? Should we hold them responsible, or as victims of their condition? Hanna Pickard discusses the issue of moral responsibility in relation to personality disorder in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. This episoded was orignally released on Bioethics Bites made in association with the Uehiro Centre and with a grant from the Wellcome Trust.

Listen to Hanna Pickard on Responsibility and Personality Disorder